NOTES. The recent appropriation of $180,000 by the Wisconsin legislature, for the erection of a new building for the Wisconsin Historical Society, is worthy of note as marking the progress of that society. That organization has long stood at the head of the historical societies under the immediate patronage of the state, and by the energy and influence of its founders, as well as by the liberality of the people of Wisconsin, this historical society has become an object of just pride, and an object lesson to all other states. We congratulate that society upon such a mark of public confidence. A new building means still greater possibilities for work than before. It is pleasant to hear that the Wisconsin society is to build its new building on the campus of the State University. Possibly the Nebraska State Historical Society was the first to be located in or near the state university, so that the material collected could be accessible to the students of the state. In this connection it is well to herald to the people of state the fact that the Library building in which the Nebraska State Historical Society has its quarters (thanks to the University authorities), is to be finished this summer by appropriation of the recent legislature. The work is already well under way, and very soon the society will be in finished rooms of permanent quarters. There will be, besides the room that the society has now, an office room, an unpacking room, and a room that will perhaps be used finally for the collection of G. A. R. relics, when the collection shall have been turned over to the society. The librarian has been assured of this by the men most interested in the collecting. The rooms when finished will be all that we could ask for. The large room in which the collections now are, will be closed by iron doors between it and the office. The room itself is as nearly fire-proof as it seems possible to make a room. The Nebraska legislature of 1895 appropriated $3,000 for the support of the society. This is thought by the officers enough to allow one man to give his whole time to the work. The librarian has already begun to secure the papers of the state not yet sent to the society. Only about one hundred papers now come regularly. It is the wish of the officers of the society that every paper published in the state be now sent. The Librarian is happy to report that 125 volums of newspapers have just returned from the bindery. A list of these will be published hereafter, additional to the list published upon pages 124-126 of this volume. Two very valuable manuscripts were presented to the society in November, 1894, by Geo. F. Parker, U. S. Consul to Birmingham, England, through the president, Hon. J. Sterling Morton. They are the manuscripts of the speeches of President Cleveland before the New England Society of Brooklyn, Dec. 21, 1891, in his own. handwriting, and before the Commercial Club of Providence R. I., June 27, 1891, in Mrs. Cleveland's handwriting. Mr. Morton had the finest possible binding put upon these at his own expense, and returned them to the society through Mrs. A. J. Sawyer. The librarian will begin a new crusade this summer to get county maps, current files of papers, and old files of papers. The covers of the Quarterly attest those things. Hor M for the collection of which a constant effort is being made. But much endeavor will be made to complete at once a set of maps of counties. Really all maps of any one county should find a place here at the Historical society quarters. Not less important is it that, from now on, all the papers published in the state should find a place on our shelves. The society can now take care of all papers that are sent. Will the editors and publishers take hold of the matter and generously put the society on mailing lists. Not a paper should be lost. Here at the rooms the utmost care will be taken in the future as it has been taken hitherto, to preserve every paper intact. Editors should not miss an opportunity of visiting our collections and interesting themselves in the objects of the Society and its future usefulness. The article by Mrs. Jeneatte M. White, concerning her father, Rev. Taggart, was written several years ago. By some mistake it was mislaid and only recently came to light. An apology is due for the tardy recognition of an old settler and loyal citizen. Nebraska State Historical Society OFFICERS Nebraska City HON. J. STERLING MORTON, President, HON. ELEAZER WAKELEY, First Vice-President, HON. R. W. FURNAS, Second Vice-President, HON. C. H. GERE, Treasurer, PROF. HOWARD W. CALDWELL, Secretary, JAY AMOS BARRETT, Librarian, COMMITTES Omaha Brownville Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Publication: THE SECRETARY, S. L. GEISHARDT, Obituaries: R. W. FURNAS, GEO. L. MILLER, and W. H. ELLER. Program: THE SECRETARY, J. L. WEBSTER, and J. M. WOOLWORTH. Library: JAY AMOS BARRETT, MRS. S. B. POUND, and J. H. Canfield. |